Brad Colbert
Encyclopedia
Brad Colbert is a United States Marine Corps
Gunnery Sergeant
whose platoon's role in and perception of the 2003 invasion of Iraq
was featured in a series of articles in Rolling Stone
by Evan Wright
. Wright was an embedded reporter who rode in the backseat of Colbert's vehicle during this time until his departure on May 4. Wright later expanded these articles into the book Generation Kill.
A skilled Reconnaissance Marine, Colbert is nicknamed "The Iceman" for his ability to stay calm in battle and his overall military competency. In Afghanistan, he received a Navy Commendation for his role in taking out an enemy missile battery. In the Iraq War, his platoon, the 2nd Platoon of Bravo Company of the 1st Reconnaissance Battalion
, was often at the spearhead of the initial invasion, with his team, of which he was team leader, often on point.
For his efforts in Iraq, he received a combat meritorious promotion to Staff Sergeant and went to serve two years in the Royal Marine Commandos. He was later promoted again to Gunnery Sergeant and served as the Company Gunnery Sergeant of H&S Company of 1st Recon. He served two additional tours in Iraq and has since left the Reconnaissance community.
In the HBO mini-series
based on Wright's book, Colbert is played by Swedish actor Alexander Skarsgård
.
United States Marine Corps
The United States Marine Corps is a branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for providing power projection from the sea, using the mobility of the United States Navy to deliver combined-arms task forces rapidly. It is one of seven uniformed services of the United States...
Gunnery Sergeant
Gunnery Sergeant
Gunnery Sergeant is the seventh enlisted rank in the United States Marine Corps, just above Staff Sergeant and below Master Sergeant and First Sergeant, and is a staff non-commissioned officer...
whose platoon's role in and perception of the 2003 invasion of Iraq
2003 invasion of Iraq
The 2003 invasion of Iraq , was the start of the conflict known as the Iraq War, or Operation Iraqi Freedom, in which a combined force of troops from the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia and Poland invaded Iraq and toppled the regime of Saddam Hussein in 21 days of major combat operations...
was featured in a series of articles in Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone is a US-based magazine devoted to music, liberal politics, and popular culture that is published every two weeks. Rolling Stone was founded in San Francisco in 1967 by Jann Wenner and music critic Ralph J...
by Evan Wright
Evan Wright
Evan Wright is an American writer, journalist, author and television writer and producer. He has reported extensively on subcultures for Rolling Stone and Vanity Fair. His latest work is American Desperado, a book he co-wrote with Jon Roberts, who was featured in the documentary the Cocaine...
. Wright was an embedded reporter who rode in the backseat of Colbert's vehicle during this time until his departure on May 4. Wright later expanded these articles into the book Generation Kill.
A skilled Reconnaissance Marine, Colbert is nicknamed "The Iceman" for his ability to stay calm in battle and his overall military competency. In Afghanistan, he received a Navy Commendation for his role in taking out an enemy missile battery. In the Iraq War, his platoon, the 2nd Platoon of Bravo Company of the 1st Reconnaissance Battalion
1st Reconnaissance Battalion
1st Reconnaissance Battalion is a reconnaissance battalion in the United States Marine Corps. It falls under the command of the 1st Marine Division and the I Marine Expeditionary Force ....
, was often at the spearhead of the initial invasion, with his team, of which he was team leader, often on point.
For his efforts in Iraq, he received a combat meritorious promotion to Staff Sergeant and went to serve two years in the Royal Marine Commandos. He was later promoted again to Gunnery Sergeant and served as the Company Gunnery Sergeant of H&S Company of 1st Recon. He served two additional tours in Iraq and has since left the Reconnaissance community.
In the HBO mini-series
Generation Kill (TV series)
Generation Kill is a 2008 HBO television miniseries based on the book of the same name by Evan Wright about his experience as an embedded reporter with the 1st Reconnaissance Battalion of the United States Marine Corps during the 2003 invasion of Iraq. It was adapted for television by David Simon,...
based on Wright's book, Colbert is played by Swedish actor Alexander Skarsgård
Alexander Skarsgård
Alexander Johan Hjalmar Skarsgård is a Swedish actor. He is best known for his roles as vampire Eric Northman on the HBO series True Blood, Meekus in Zoolander and Brad Colbert in the HBO miniseries Generation Kill.-Early life:...
.